The Belagavi City Corporation has approved a budget with a surplus of ₹10.35 lakh for 2025-26. The budget approval meeting, chaired by Caretaker Mayor Savita Kamble, concluded in just half an hour, with opposition corporators choosing not to participate in the discussion.
Key Allocations: Dog Shelter & Free Cremation
For the first time, ₹20 lakh has been allocated to establish a shelter for stray dogs. Additionally, ₹75 lakh has been earmarked for the sterilization and care of stray dogs, addressing the ongoing stray animal issue in the city.
Last year, ₹80 lakh was allocated for free cremation services and crematorium improvements, but not a single cremation took place under the scheme. This year, ₹75 lakh has again been set aside for free funerals and crematorium upgrades, raising concerns over the effective utilization of funds.
Notable Budget Provisions
- E-Governance Initiative: ₹25 lakh has been allocated for the creation of an e-office in the municipal corporation to improve administrative efficiency.
- Sanitation & Waste Management: ₹29.32 crore will go towards city sanitation, including ₹10 crore for regular cleaner salaries and ₹4 crore for waste processing.
- Road & Infrastructure Development: ₹5 crore will be used for road construction across 58 divisions, with an additional ₹4 crore for sewer development and ₹1 crore for cement roads.
- Journalist Welfare: ₹50 lakh has been provided for journalist medical insurance.
- Beautification & Maintenance: ₹3.2 crore is allocated for garden improvements, and ₹50 lakh for the beautification of city squares.
- Other Allocations: ₹1 crore is set aside for computer purchases, ₹6 crore for subway construction and repairs, and ₹3.28 crore for welfare programs for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and economically weaker sections.
Revenue Sources & Unresolved Issues
The budget lists an expected revenue of ₹17 crore from HESCOM dues, a figure mentioned every year without any concrete collection efforts by the Corporation. This raises concerns about the actual financial position of the municipal body, despite projecting a surplus of ₹10 lakh.
Major Income Sources:
- Property tax: ₹78.09 crore
- Building permit fees: ₹10.03 crore
- Road digging fees: ₹2.75 crore
- Waste processing fees: ₹9.75 crore
- State finance commission subsidies: ₹52 crore
With no significant new provisions apart from the dog shelter and cremation services, questions remain about the effectiveness of fund utilization and the Corporation’s ability to generate revenue beyond paper projections.